Have you seen the poster of someone dressed up as a chicken with a speech bubble saying: "Make time for health"?

I nearly made time for ill health by driving into the back of a bus trying to read the small print, so in order to save you from a similar fate, here's an article about the chicken which you can read when you are not driving.

For some time now, health service managers have been working hard in an effort to improve the National Health Service. It remains a long way short of perfect but we, the British public, still seem to love it.

Some people care so much about health they are prepared to dress up as chickens and take part in marathons to raise money to help.

Thousands of pounds have been raised in this way for people suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis and other disasters.

There is a particularly rich supply of these public-hearted people in this area, many of whom took part in this weekend's Great North Run.

Not all of us have the time and ability, not to mention the chicken costumes, to contribute in this way but there are other ways you can contribute.

A good health service should be open to the influence of local people, particularly those who have used the system and have the ability to work together to improve it.

A network of forums is being set up across the country to enable members of the public to contribute in ways other than racing along in a chicken suit.

These will be known as PPI forums, standing for Patient and Public Involvement. To quote the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health:

"We are now looking for members for the PPIs. If you think that you could work with other PPI members to:

Encourage others to get involved;

Find out what people really think about health locally and take action;

Independently watch over the quality of local health care;

Shape decisions which impact on our health care

Influence local and national decisions as part of a growing network for public involvement;

Be a force for fairness and change."

I welcome this but it will only work well if people from all walks of life are prepared to give it a go. This is for everyone, but especially those who can represent people whose voices are not usually heard.

You could suggest that we save money by not putting posters with tiny print on the back of buses. Go on, find out more, call 0845 120 7115 or write to: